Why HP May Buy a Cloud Software Company in 2014

With HP's operating debt paid off and $12.2 billion on the balance sheet, CEO Meg Whitman has signaled in interviews that HP may be on the hunt for an acquisition or two in 2014. Don't expect Whitman and HP's board to sign off on any "transformative" deals. But a small- to medium-size deal for an SaaS company with healthy growth prospects, some logical connections to HP's existing businesses and a reasonable valuation seems like a solid bet at HP before 2014 is over.